Caldwell trustees grilled over shakeup

Caldwell school trustees made it official Monday night, naming Jodie Mills the district’s interim superintendent.

Rosandick square
Ousted Caldwell superintendent Tim Rosandick.

But as the Idaho Press-Tribune reported Tuesday, trustees were peppered by questions about the abrupt shakeup that created the vacancy in the first place. A week ago, trustees ousted former superintendent Tim Rosandick and deputy superintendent Luci Asumendi, and the district has said little about the reasons behind the move.

“Please define the situation that was so egregious they could not only not fulfill an assigned 2015-16 contract, but not even finish the 2014-15 contract that would have gone through June 30,” said former Caldwell district employee Chuck Randolph, according to the Press-Tribune.

The district will keep Rosandick and Asumendi on contract through June 30, 2016, and district officials say they will work in a consulting role. But both former administrators are free to look for new work — and Rosandick can land a new job without jeopardizing his $137,000 contract extension with Caldwell.

Trustees and district staff continue to say little about the circumstances surrounding the shakeup — even though, as the Press-Tribune reported, the contract addenda contain no gag orders.

Idaho Education News first reported last week on the shakeup — and first reported that Rosandick and Asumendi will receive pay raises under their 2015-16 contracts.

 

 

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]

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